Becoming a Patient in Hawaii

Summary

A doctor may recommend marijuana to a seriously ill patient, providing the patient with protection from criminal conviction for marijuana use under Hawaii law. Hawaii also has a registry ID card system for patients which should ordinarily prevent a patient from being arrested for marijuana use. A primary caregiver may help a medical marijuana patient cultivate and ingest their medicine. Registered patients and caregivers may also acquire medical cannabis from a state licensed dispensary.

What's Legal

The law allows a patient to have seven live marijuana plants (regardless of stage of maturiryt) and one ounce of usable marijuana per each mature plant. These limitations apply to the total amount of medicine possessed between a patient and caregiver.

Eligible Conditions

Patients may use marijuana to treat the following conditions:

Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Cachexia or wasting syndrome

Severe pain

Severe nausea

Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy

Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Any other medical condition approved by the department of health

Application Process

Doctor

A licensed physician may recommend marijuana. This recommendation is essential for becoming a patient in Hawaii. A recommendation from a physician's assistant will not protect you under Hawaii law. As of Jan. 1, 2015, only a patient's primary care physician may provide a valid written recommendation for medical marijuana.

Access/ Caregivers

As a patient, you may cultivate marijuana. You may also designate a caregiver to assist you in cultivating marijuana. You and your caregiver are allowed to cultivate a total of up to three mature marijuana plants and four immature marijuana plants.

Consumption

The Hawaii medical marijuana law does not allow a patient to medicate if it in any way endangers the health or well-being of another person. Nor does the law allow you to medicate in a moving vehicle, in the workplace, on school grounds, in a public place, in a correctional facility, or in any state monitored facility.

Age Limits

If you are a minor, you need a statement by your parent or guardian that your doctor has explained the risks and benefits of marijuana. Also, your parent or guardian has to be your primary caregiver and needs to control your possession and use of marijuana.

Confidentiality

The department of public safety will verify whether the particular qualifying patient has registered with the department when asked by a law enforcement agency. The department may also provide access to the registry information for official law enforcement purposes. If a patient has any questions regarding the confidentiality of their status as a medical marijuana patient, they should contact the Dept. of Public Safety at (808)-837-8470.

Housing

Discrimination protections were added in Act 242 (2015).

Employment

Discrimination protections were added in Act 242 (2015).

Insurance

The laws do not require insurance coverage for the medical use of marijuana.

Reciprocity

Hawaii does not currently recognize medical marijuana certifications from other states. If you are not a certified medical marijuana patient in Hawaii, you are not protected as a patient in Hawaii, even if you are protected in other states.

For more information

Information Hotline – Call (808) 733-2177 and listen to general information about the program. If you are located on Hawaii, you can call (808) 974-4000, ext. 32177; Maui, call (808) 984-2400, ext. 32177; Kauai call (808) 274-3141, ext. 32177 – for toll free access to the Information Hot Line.

NOTE: Caller’s must wait for the dial tone before dialing ext. 32177. If you do not, you may be transferred to a random department within the state based on the timing of how you press the numbers 32177. The individuals in those departments will not be able to assist you.